At what age did you allow your dog to have free roam when you were gone? Did you start by running small errands, and gradually build up to when you're at work?

My boy is 2.5 years old and we still crate him while we're at work or leave the house (got him at 8 weeks). I moved into a new house this past June and gave him free roam at first. He quickly lost that privilege when he decided to chew the molding and drywall in the bedroom that he was left in.

I would ideally like to give him free roam by the time he's 3, however I don't want to come home to another incident like that again.

I think it depends on the dog, the one I have now, no way would he ever be unsupervised, he chews/eats everything he can get in his mouth, drives me nuts. My old dog (a cross) I could leave from the day I got him and he never did anything wrong.....

About a year old and yes we started with short trips to pick up milk and then gradually built the time up but if we're gone for long amounts of time we crate. I dont want to take the risk of him accidentally injuring himself or eating something when we've been gone all day.

Lisl was letting herself out of her crate at six months. Before I put a stop to it, she would only occasionally get into the bathroom trash. The one thing she kept doing was removing and chewing up the laces out of my Adidas walking shoes.

She did that on three separate occasions and still haven't figured out why she does that.

She's ok for up to a few hours by herself, but she is unpredictable after that. She would never chew indescriminately, but she likes the bathroom trash on occasion. I keep it out of her reach when I decide to let her out and I'm gone.

She is slowly earning more time, but it may be up to 24 months before she has total run of the house for more that a few hours.

On a positive note, her potty training is 110% when she's by herself. I'm very proud of her for that.

My oldest two have always had free roam while I'm gone. I'm not sure when the puppy will. He tends to get into everything. He is 6 months old and last night was his first night not locked in the crate. He did really well. ...baby steps.

__________________Riley - 11/05/2012-8/30/2013 (Myasthenia Gravis)
He will always be in my heart.

Misty(samoyed mix)brought home at 10 months from shelter, never crated, but loves going in crates to sleep.

Tannor(golden retriever) brought home at 8 weeks and out of crate completely at 4 months, never chewed or had an accident in the house

Robyn(GSD) brought home at 12 weeks, out of crate at 4 months at night and completely out at 6-7 months.

Midnite(GSD) brought home from shelter at almost a year was in crate for first 3 months. He broke out a few times and chewed a few things. Once we moved I let him out during the day first, then at night. Completely out of crate by 13 months.

Brennan(golden retriever) brought home at 12 weeks, still in crate with no signs of ever getting out(he is 7 months). He is into everything .

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